Tender. Loving. Care - Plot synopsis
Real estate tycoon, Asad Ahmed Khan, is on the fast track to his first billion. Life's experiences have confirmed his belief that true love is a myth. When the time comes, he will marry but not for love.
Then Zoya Farooqui comes crashing into his life - she's in India on a mission to find her biological father. Life hasn't been easy for her either but the gorgeous New Yorker takes everything in her stride!
Asad can't figure her out - she annoys the hell out of him, but she gets under his skin! Zoya thinks he's super hot and soon, passion erupts!
Asad's reluctance to let Zoya into his heart and trust her could be a deal breaker, and things get complicated when Ayaan, the groom she left at her nikaah, comes in search of her.
But Zoya knows one thing... after a near-miss with matrimony, this time she will settle for nothing less than true love!
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Chapter 1: Worked up
Zoya propped up the throw pillows on the couch before settling down with her iPad, hoping her lower back pain would go away. She wasn't going to be bogged down by this, her mind was buzzing with ideas, after she'd overheard Asad's phone conversation with Ileana.
"Tender loving care, that's what you need Mr. Khan," she mumbled. "And maybe I can help your lady love with some great tips!"
Like most nerdy girls, Zoya had complete faith in the power of the internet, and she typed the phrase in the search bar, hoping to find some interesting tips that she could pass on to Ileana.
"Allah Miya! What's wrong with you, Google?!" she exclaimed in frustration. "Not even one relevant result... what am I going to do now?"
She pulled down the flap of the iPad, shutting it off as she got off the couch and headed to her room. The dull ache in her back was getting worse now, and it was probably time to pop a pain-killer. She walked slowly, arching a little as she rubbed the spot from where the pain radiated.
As she turned a corner, she thought aloud, "I hope I've packed the muscle relaxant Apa had given me," and collided into a well-toned, all-male chest. Strong, muscled arms came around her instantly, and she found herself pulled in closer to that rock-hard body.
She looked up to find herself staring into the chocolate-brown eyes of Asad Ahmed Khan. "You hurt?" he asked in a concerned tone, his deep voice reverberating in his chest and making her feel all mushy.
"Umm... uh... no," she replied, struggling to ignore the warn sensations enveloping her body.
"I thought I heard you say something about a muscle relaxant... are you in pain?" Asad countered, his voice, tender and his arms still very much around her.
"I'm ok... would you let me go?" Zoya said a bit more aggressively than she would have liked. Darn, she hated the effect he had on her... proximity to Mr. Khan was something she could definitely live without.
"Well, I was just trying to keep you from falling," he pointed out, in an irritated tone, as he gently pushed her aside towards the wall, and walked away from her.
As she saw his retreating figure, she heaved a sigh of relief, and realized she'd held her breath all this while! What was it about this Akdu Ahmed Khan that got her all worked up, and in a tizzy?
She turned the knob of the door to her room, and flicked on the switch. It was nearing 9 PM, and Phuphi and Najma were still not back from the wedding. Wish I'd gone with them, at least I wouldn't have to deal with Six-pack Abs for dinner!
She rifled through her suitcase for her medicine kit, pulling out clothes and accessories that got in the way of her search. Damn... where was it? She needed it now... past experience had taught her that even a 10-minute delay could make the pain so much worse! It was these times that she wished she was a wee bit careful about where she kept her stuff. She was beginning to feel nauseous now, and her stomach was cramping mildly.
There was a knock at the door. "Ms. Farooqui... you're ready for dinner?" Asad asked softly. "Ms. Farooqui... Zoya... you there?" he knocked again, and raised his voice. An eerie silence answered him. Now that was unusual for the effervescent Ms. Farooqui... in fact, he'd often hoped she'd have the sense to zip it.
He glanced at his watch... it was nearly five minutes since he'd knocked. He was beginning to get worried. Was she ok? He thought he'd heard her mumble something a muscle relaxant in the corridor. Something wasn't right!
Index:
Chapter 2: Gratitude
Chapter 3: Desire
Chapter 4: A secret and a revelation
Chapter 5:Hey Jealousy
Chapter 6: Ensnared
Chapter 7: Complicated
Chapter 8: Doubt
Chapter 9: Penitence
Chapter 10: No more secrets
Chapter 11: All clear. RESET
Chapter 12: Temptation
Chapter 14: The unwelcome guest
Chapter 15: Reboot
Chapter 16: A discovery
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